Indians Rookie Cody Allen has excelled when it comes to stopping inherited baserunners from scoring.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Hey, Hoynsie: What is the percentage of runners that Cody Allen has stranded? Also what is the spiked curveball he throws? -- Dan Kopp, Mansfield.

Hey, Dan: Regarding inherited runners, Allen has stranded nearly 64 percent of the 47 runners he's inherited entering Friday's series against the Mets. Pitchers throw a spiked or knuckle curveball by digging the nail of their index finger into one of the seams of the baseball and throwing it like a curveball.

Allen calls it a "violent' pitch because it usually has a sharp break and ends up in the dirt. He throws it when he needs a strikeout.

Hey, Hoynsie: Since Nick Swisher's sore left shoulder has kept his power numbers down all season, was there ever any thought of having him just bat right-handed for a few weeks until that shoulder healed? What could have it hurt to try? -- Bruce Allen, Lake O Lake, Fla.

Hey, Bruce:Swisher had 15 homers entering Friday's game against the Mets. He hit 10 of them while batting left-handed. Draw your own conclusion.

Hey, Hoynsie: Is Asdrubal Cabrera's performance dropoff attributable to the team's efforts to trade him in the off-season? Will this impact his trade value this year? -- Steve Cornelius, Rocky River.

Hey, Steve: I would say no. When the rumors started spreading last December that the Indians were shopping Cabrera, he called GM Chris Antonetti to find out what was going on. Antonetti assured Cabrera that whatever happened, he'd be the first to know. When Cabrera's name came up again during the regular season in connection with St. Louis, Antonetti was quick to say it wasn't true. If the Indians want to trade Cabrera this winter, I think they'll be able to do it. They'd probably have a tough time getting equal value and might have to absorb some of the $10 million he's due next year.

Hey, Hoynsie: After seeing Terry Pluto mention that closer Chris Perez will be gone before the 2014 season begins, what can we get for him straight up? What would the Indians need to include with Perez to obtain a legit power hitter? -- Tim Kuhen, Moundsville, W. Va.

Hey, Tim: I think health will be a big factor in any team that is interested in Perez. Are they convinced his right shoulder is sound? The Indians shopped Perez last winter and their price wasn't overwhelming, but no one bit. I don't see how they could up the ante this winter. As for a legitimate power hitter, I think it would take Perez, Danny Salazar and probably another player. Would you do that?

Hey, Hoynsie: When a player is traded why does the team that trade him agree to sometimes pick up the remainder of the player's salary? Not only are they losing a player, but they are paying him to play for another team. -- Ben Giller, Philadelphia, Pa.

Hey, Giller: A team usually bases how much salary is will absorb of a player it is trading based on the talent it's getting back. The better the players coming back to the trading team, the more the team is willing to absorb.

Hey, Hoynsie: Why did Justin Morneau end up in Pittsburgh? Did the Tribe not even put in a waiver bid? He sure would have been better than Jason Kubel. -- Larry Cope, Cumming, Ga.

Hey, Larry: Before the Twins traded Morneau to the Pirates, he reportedly passed through waivers unclaimed. That means the Indians weren't the only team to pass on the first baseman/DH. The big hangup, I'm sure for the Indians, was paying the $2.2 million that remained on Morneau's contract for September.

The Indians spent $13 million on departed Mark Reynolds and right-hander Brett Myers. Could they have spent that money more wisely?Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

Hey, Hoynsie: The Indians spent $13 million on free agents Brett Myers and Mark Reynolds in the off-season and both players are no longer on the team. Do you think that the Indians could have spent that money better -- perhaps on different players -- or in a trade where they take on some payroll? -- Thomas Ryan, Fostoria.

Hey, Thomas: Sure they could have, but that's easy to say with the benefit of hindsight. When the Indians signed both players, I thought they were solid, low-risk deals. Unfortunately, they didn't work. Myers was ineffective from spring training and Reynolds, after a great April, stopped hitting.

Hey, Hoynsie:Vinnie Pestano was sent to Class AAA Columbus AAA for a month and pitched fairly regularly with OK results. Yet he hasn't pitched so far since coming back and looks like he won't be put in critical situations this month. Does this indicate that he is injured or that he is having a bad year after being worked hard the previous two years? -- Rich Smith, Columbus.

Hey, Rich: Entering Friday's series against the Mets, the Indians have played two games since Pestano was recalled, so it's way too early to figure out how he'll be used. In talking to Pestano, he realizes manager Terry Francona has a pecking order of relievers and right now he's not at the front of the line. But with starters Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar and Scott Kazmir on restricted pitch counts, Pestano and the other 14 relievers on the roster are going to get a chance to pitch. As for the status of his elbow, Pestano says he feels good.

Hey, Hoynsie: In your opinion what have the Pirates done this year to get them in their current position? More importantly, what lessons could the Tribe front office learn from Pittsburgh's sudden turnaround? -- Dan Monaghan, Erie, Pa.

Hey, Dan: Well, the Tribe could always lose for the next 20 straight seasons, collect as many revenue sharing checks and No.1 draft picks as possible, and then get back into the postseason hunt. You can't throw a lollipop like that and not expect me to take a hack.

Hey, Hoynsie: Are the Indians a profitable franchise? Outside of the lump sum payment for SportsTime Ohio and the increase in team value (based on Forbes data; money the Dolan family won't get until they sell the team), are the Dolans making money on the Indians on a day-to-day basis? I don't think they make money in the day-to-day operations because of the lack of fan support and the high cost of operating a baseball team. There is an increase in TV revenue, but isn't that offset, this season, by the free agent signings? It seems like the current owners won't make money until the team is sold. -- Alex Kaufman, Granville.

Hey, Alex: I would agree. Revenue sharing and the new national media contracts, which begin in 2014, keep the Indians solvent, but it's hard to imagine they're making much money through attendance. Not when they rank 27th in the big leagues and 13th in the AL for a team that is still in the wild-card chase.

Hey, Hoynsie: On pickoff attempts at first base, what happens more often -- the runner gets picked off or the ball gets away and the runner advances? -- Dave Slavick, Eastlake.

Hey, Dave: Interesting question and I don't know the answer, but I do know what happens on the majority of pickoff attempts, the pitcher throws the ball to the first baseman, he catches it throws the ball back to the pitcher and the crowd boos.

Hey, Hoynsie: All this hype about Justin Masterson being an ace, but in a crucial series, he comes down with a mysterious rib injury in the second inning. Seriously? Aces pitch. They don't leave a team hanging against a tough opponent. What do you think? -- Brett Ormsby, Bay Village.

Hey, Brett: There's no mystery about Masterson's injury, it's a strained oblique and it's obvious you've never had one. When you do, it hurts to breathe, cough and laugh. Every time you try to throw a baseball, it feels like you're getting punched in the ribs. Ace or no ace, you can't pitch. That's what I think.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you happen to know how the Tigers' ownership make their money from a "bankrupt" city? -- Niko Bencun, Cleveland.

Hey, Niko: The Ilitch family sells pizzas, lots and lots of pizzas. Even a bankrupt city has to eat.

Hey, Hoynsie: If the Tribe doesn't make the playoffs, should we expect the organization to fire the batting coach, again? -- Hank Schrader, Cleveland.

Hey, Hank: I hope not, especially since this club is on pace to win 86 games, a big improvement from last year's 68. The offense has had a lot to do with that, even though Ty Van Berkleo's hitters have been struggling since August.

Should Ryan Raburn get a shot a third base?Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer

Hey, Hoynsie: With the Indians acquiring Jason Kubel, their struggles at third base and Ryan Raburn coming off the disabled list, do you see them trying Raburn at third? He can already play second and with Kubel serving as the fourth outfielder it seems worth a shot given his capabilities as a hitter. -- Graham Ketcham, Ashland.

Hey, Graham: Raburn has done a lot of things this season, including pitching an inning in relief, but entering the weekend he had yet to start a game at third. I don't think this is the time to experiment; besides, Mike Aviles has played well there.

Hey, Hoynsie: If a player becomes eligible for free agency by declining a player option or mutual option at the end of a season, can his former organization still offer him a qualifying offer and receive draft pick compensation should he sign elsewhere? -- David Bruno, Chicago.

Hey, David: Great question and the answer is yes. The risk is if a team makes a one-year qualifying offer to one of their free agents with the idea of collecting draft picks, he can always say yes and take the deal. Last year the qualifying offers were one year for about $13 million. It's expected to be close to $14 million this year.

Hey, Hoynsie: Do you have any information as to why the Tribe was not interested in Alfonso Soriano or Alex Rios? No high prospects were given up for them.-- Louis Ramos, Cleveland.

Hey, Louis: It was all about money. Soriano is making $18 million this year and next year. The Cubs paid $16.2 million of his 2013 salary and $13 million of his 2014 salary. The Yankees would pick up the remaining $6.8 million.

Rios is guaranteed $13 million next year plus a $2 million buyout if the Rangers don't exercise his option for 2015. The Indians weren't willing to pay that kind of money.

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